Father of 9-year-old stowaway had asked for help with son

The father of the 9-year-old boy who somehow snuck through security at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport and hopped on a Delta flight to Las Vegas made a tearful plea for help at a news conference Wednesday.

The man, who did not want to be identified or have his face shown, told reporters he's been asking for help handling his son's out-of-control behavior.

Two days before the airport scheme last Thursday, the 9-year-old stole a commercial truck from a Minneapolis business and took a 9-mile joyride, damaging ten other vehicles along his path and eventually crashing into a police squad car.

His father said his son didn't understand the severity of what he had done.

"He told police he thought he was playing Grand Theft Auto," the father said.

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The father says the boy doesn't own the video game but likely played it at a friend's house.

Family spokesperson V.J. Smith with MAD DADS says Hennepin County has stepped up to help the boy's parents.